Obama and Trudeau have a budding bromance

The hunky and extremely progressive new Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau got a rockstar welcome as he exited the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Manila, Philippines today.

Trudeau, the new Prime Minister from Canada’s Liberal Party, playfully referred to Obama’s greying hair (his way of calling him a silver fox?) and pointed out their shared commitment to being hot dads.

Trudeau’s statement came in response to a Filipino journalist’s question about the actions his government has taken after Canadian company Chronic Inc. exported in 2013 about 50 40-foot containers of garbage to Chronic Plastics, a company based in Manila. “I’d seen it from my father but for me to be here, to be able to engage in both formal and more casual conversations with leaders from around the world, to establish connections so we can work together on issues where we align, but also to agree to disagree on issues where we may have different perspectives”, he said.

However, for our neighbors to the north, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent overtures to expand legal protections and civil liberties of Canadian citizens are acting more swiftly. A report from The Canadian Press pegged the cost at roughly $1.2 billion over the next six years and will involve several government departments as well as the military in a co-ordinated effort.

Using assumptions at the pessimistic end of the forecast spectrum, the incoming Liberal government says it is inheriting a $3-billion deficit in lieu of the nearly equivalent surplus projected for this year by the previous Conservative government.

Trudeau was asked later Thursday about the Obama comment, a question that led his ministers of trade and foreign affairs, sitting in front of him, to scoff. “We’d like as many partners in the F-35 program as possible”.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said earlier this month any agreement will “definitely not” be a treaty, and that there won’t be legally binding reduction targets as was the case with the Kyoto Protocol.

Obama echoed that, saying he was “glad” for both countries having “traditional fuels” but that they needed to push more into renewable fuels. “I am making sure to try and remain as attentive and present for my kids, not just because it makes me a better parent and a better person, but also because it’s what keeps us focused as leaders on what actually matters”.

Canada is deeply implicated in the “Pivot”.

“We have momentum at the political level, with all orders of government”.

Jennifer Morgan, the institute’s climate negotiator, this week cited the actions of the USA and China, Brazil, Poland within the European Union, and Canada as determinants – for good or ill – of the Paris conference outcome.

Trudeau and Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland have repeatedly proclaimed their support for “free trade”. All were hallmarks of his election campaign.

There is little doubt that Trudeau will soon give Obama what he wants in regards to the TPP. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi at the G-20 meeting praised Trudeau’s campaign as a “great model ” for others. Trudeau said he looked forward to visiting the White House, noting that his wife wanted tips from first lady Michelle Obama about the White House vegetable garden.

Trudeau – like Harper – favored Keystone, though took a cautious approach after its rejection and was criticized domestically for not rebuking Obama over the U.S. decision.

Beyond the adulation, Trudeau said his first experience on the global stage as Canada’s leader taught him the value of engaging with his counterparts.